WE WILL BE MORE DECISIVE IN OUR TREE PLANTING ACTION FROM NOW ON – SANWO-OLU

… As Lagos State Combats Effect of Climate Change

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to proffer solutions to climate change by planting more trees in the next 12 months.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated this in his address at the commemoration of the State 2024 Tree Planting Day ceremony held at the Lagos House Marina on Sunday, adding that there is a need for a deliberate and concerted effort to change the mentality of the people toward climate change to save lives and the environment.

He said, “As a foremost State, Lagos has to be intentional and very proactive in its resolve to take back our environment, and we are engaging within ourselves to ensure we raise the bar. We have plans to ensure we plant a lot of trees this year alone and we monitor their growth while we sustain or improve this number every year to keep ourselves alive”.

“I have spoken to the Head of our agency to design ways to achieve growth consistency in this fight for our lives and environment. Why this is important is that it is also a demonstration of our government’s commitment. For all of us to have taken time to have come out this morning signifies that we believe in our tree planting initiative”, he added, 

Mr. Governor averred that it was important to do everything humanly possible to mitigate against the effect of climate change, noting that part of the strategy to save our environment is to curb the surge of climate change by regular tree planting, It is something that we as a government must deliberately set out to do frequently.

Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources said that the theme for this year’s tree planting day is “Nurture Our Future”, stressing that the present administration intends to plant a lot more trees before the event next year.

Wahab said that the event underscored the efforts to protect the future while taking full ownership to develop a better environmental habit for a quality impact on climate change. “As a government, it is our collective responsibility that we develop strategic methods to improve the environment, ensure that it is flood-free, and make it conducive for residents”, he stated. 

The Commissioner explained that this can be achieved through the continuous cleaning of the environment from time to time, adding that the government plans to further educate residents on the need to take ownership of their environment and ensure that they continuously clean their surroundings and dispose of waste responsibly.

“We acknowledge that we must sustain this as our contribution towards maintaining a sustainable environment”, Wahab said.

In closing remarks, the General Manager, Lagos State Parks and Gardens (LASPARK), Mrs. Adetoun Popoola promised that she and her team will continue to ensure that tree planting is not just a yearly event but a frequent activity.

Expressing her gratitude to Mr. Governor and the Commissioner for their unwavering support to the Agency and in championing all environmental issues in the State, Popoola stated that the theme of the event, “Nurture our Future”, is a call to action for everyone and a reminder that the decisions we make today will shape the world we live tomorrow.